Pakistan Ready to Resume Talks with Afghanistan Amid Istanbul Dialogue

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has signaled its readiness to continue talks with Afghanistan following requests from mediators Türkiye and Qatar, with the next round expected soon in Istanbul. Sources say the Pakistani delegation, initially preparing to return home, will remain longer to give peace efforts another chance.

The discussions are expected to focus on Pakistan’s key demand that Afghanistan take clear, verifiable, and effective action against terrorist groups operating from its soil. Pakistani officials reiterated that Afghan territory must not be used to launch attacks against Pakistan, and no resources should be allowed to support terrorism. Islamabad maintains that any cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan is unacceptable.

Diplomatic sources indicated that the Afghan side has shown some flexibility, but Pakistan remains firm on its security red lines, insisting that pressure or diplomatic maneuvering cannot compromise national defense. Officials emphasized that Islamabad seeks meaningful, results-oriented talks rather than discussions for appearances, stressing the need for concrete guarantees regarding cross-border terrorism.

Read more: Pakistan Says It Has Evidence of India Waging ‘Low-Intensity War’ from Afghan Soil: Asif”

Pakistan has made it clear that if the Afghan government wants regional stability and hopes to avoid further diplomatic isolation, it must take practical steps to eliminate Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant networks. The upcoming Istanbul dialogue will be guided by Pakistan’s sovereign and national security interests, with no compromise on safeguarding defense.

The previous round of talks ended without progress, prompting Islamabad to announce full-scale action against terrorists and their supporters. Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that despite presenting actionable evidence of Indian-backed groups like TTP and BLA, the Afghan side failed to provide any practical assurances. Qatar and Turkey acknowledged the evidence, but Kabul did not commit to actionable steps.

Following the stalled talks, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif issued a stern warning, noting that Pakistan’s participation in the Istanbul talks was to give peace a chance, but its restraint should not be mistaken for weakness. He said Pakistan “does not need to use even a fraction of its full arsenal to completely obliterate the Taliban regime” if tensions escalate, highlighting the serious consequences of continued inaction by Afghan authorities.

Pakistan continues to demand practical measures from Afghanistan to curb cross-border terrorism while maintaining a firm stance on national security and regional stability.